Cryogenic nickel plates are excellently suited to applications exposed to extremely low temperatures. They are used for the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

LNG

Natural gas is liquefied at the extremely low temperature of -164 °C, shrinking its volume by a factor of 600. This makes its storage and transport possible and economically efficient. At these very low temperatures, the utilization of special 9 % nickel steels is necessary in order to guarantee sufficient toughness and resistance to brittle cracking. We supply extra wide plates to this market segment, even with a thickness of 5 mm.

LPG

The LPG process is used to produce propane and process gases from natural gas. These gases are liquefied at room temperature at low pressure and are stored in special tanks made of 5 % nickel steels. We supply shell plates and vessel heads from a single source.

Highest quality for the highest degree of safety

The basis of our high-quality nickel plates are high-purity slabs from our own steelmaking plant. The very low carbon content guarantees perfect weldability. Further advantages are found in the product's excellent impact strength and the fracture-mechanical properties (CTOD). The entire plate surface undergoes ultrasonic testing. The residual magnetism is below 50 gauss.

Preprocessing to meet specific customer requirements

Shot-blasted or shot-blasted and primed

Weld edge preparation: Minimal hardening of the flame-cut edge is a result of the low carbon content.

Plate bending

Steel grades

Steel group

Standard

Steel grades

5 % nickel steels

EN 10028-4:2003

X12Ni5

9 % nickel steels

EN 10028-4:2003

ASTM/ASME 553

X7Ni9

A/SA 553 Type 1

Dimensions

Plate thickness

5 % nickel steels: 5–70 mm

9 % nickel steels: 5–60 mm

Plate width

1,600–3,800 mm, extra wide plates: 9 % nickel steels with a thickness of 5 mm are available in widths up to 2,800 mm.

Plate length

12,400 mm max.

Ordered weight

At least 2 tons per line item

Unit weight

10.0 tons max. per single plate

Certifications

Our product quality is certified by all of the leading certification institutions. We also meet the highest requirements of KOGAS, the state-operated Korean gas company.

altrix®

As the largest Group division in terms of revenue, the voestalpine Steel Division has attained global quality leadership in highest quality steel strip and a leading position worldwide in heavy plate for the most sophisticated applications as well as in casings for large turbines. The division is a strategic partner to Europe’s premium automotive manufacturers and major automotive suppliers. It is also one of the largest suppliers to the European consumer goods and white goods industries, as well as to the mechanical engineering and oil and gas sector. In the business year 2016/17, the division generated revenue of EUR 3.9 billion and reported an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 564 million. It has around 10,900 employees worldwide.

As the largest Group division in terms of revenue, the voestalpine Steel Division has attained global quality leadership in highest quality steel strip and a leading position worldwide in heavy plate for the most sophisticated applications as well as in casings for large turbines. The division is a strategic partner to Europe’s premium automotive manufacturers and major automotive suppliers. It is also one of the largest suppliers to the European consumer goods and white goods industries, as well as to the mechanical engineering and oil and gas sector. In the business year 2016/17, the division generated revenue of EUR 3.9 billion and reported an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 564 million. It has around 10,900 employees worldwide.